Study for a graduate program in New York

State overview

With more than 8 million inhabitants, New York City is one of the great world cities, home to a rich and diverse population that embodies the American dream. Home to the Statue of Liberty, the city has always been a symbol of America’s tenets – opportunity, prosperity, freedom and acceptance.

International students study a graduate program in New York can expect to live in one of the world’s busiest and most exciting states. There is more here than just NYC, with the beauty of the Great Appalachian mountains to the east and the nearby Niagara Falls.
With more than 70 private universities in the state and two Ivy League colleges (the only state to have more than one), New York State is a great place to be an international student.

Education profile

New York State is home to a number of public and private institutions where you can study a postgraduate course, including two Ivy League schools in Cornell University in Ithaca and Columbia University in New York City. You can study a graduate program in New York at the following:

Professional, or ‘terminal’, masters are designed to lead to employment rather than further study. Popular courses include: Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) and Master of Library Science (M.L.S.).

Academic masters, however, are generally designed to lead the way into doctorate/PhD study. Popular courses include: Master of Education (M.Ed.), and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.).

Both last between one and three years, depending on the subject.

Doctoral degrees are the most advanced level of higher education, and usually take between four and eight years to complete, which includes the time it takes to write and present a dissertation.

Immigration and visas

Before travelling to the USA to study in California, you will need to apply for a non-immigrant visa.

The most common kind of student visa is the F-1 visa, which entitles the holder to study at any US accredited college or university.
To apply for a student visa for a graduate program in California, you will need to fill out an application form (found on the US Embassy website) and send appropriate documentation, such as evidence of financial standing and proof of university acceptance and academic qualifications, as well as possibly attending a visa interview at the US Embassy in your home country.

Life in New York

Where to being with life in New York? As well as the most spectacular nightlife in the world, NYC is home to Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art and countless other world attractions.

Amongst all these wonderful sights, make sure you talk to as many New Yorkers as possible. Far from the stereotype of being surly and aggressive, New Yorkers will be happy to share their city with you, some grab a cup of coffee or a large slice of Deep Pan pizza and get to know your new friends.

However, there is more to the state than just New York City. Head to Buffalo for cheap and tasty regional food, the artist’s colony of Hudson Valley for great views and the Appalachians for hiking.

Working in New York

New York is the third biggest economy in the US, behind the larger states of California and Texas. The state has a large manufacturing sector, that focuses on the printing and production of clothes, transport and nanotechnology, particularly around the Hudson Valley.

New York City is one of the world’s leading financial centres and is the location of the New York Stock Exchange – the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume. The financial district is also home to many of the world’s largest corporations.

The State is also a major agricultural producer, with intensive production of apples, dairy, onions and cabbage.

Accommodation

Most students on a graduate program in New York will choose to live in university accommodation at first, as this is the easiest way of getting to know the area you’ll be studying and finding new student friends. Most halls of residence in New York will have facilities like a gym, outdoor area and bar. However, with space at a premium, not all universities guarantee postgraduates a room.

Weather and climate

New York has a changeable climate, with hot dry summers and long cold winters. The main summer months are between June and August when temperatures can hit 30C or hotter, while the coldest winter months are between December and February when temperatures can struggle to get above freezing point during the day. Snowfall is not uncommon during winter.

What to do next

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